Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced this week that he plans to propose a 15-week ban on abortions nationally. Whether the move is a politically smart one for Republicans at this point is up for debate, though there’s no question that it is the right and just thing to do. What’s more, this bill is nowhere near as “extreme” or “backwards” as Democrats are trying to make it out to be. In fact, Graham’s proposal would simply bring us in line with the rest of the Western world.
Just about every other country in the civilized world restricts abortion far more than the U.S. does. We are one of only seven countries to allow elective abortions (or abortions that are not medically necessary to save the life of the mother) at 20 weeks, which is the halfway mark in a pregnancy. Most countries, including liberal European nations such as France, Norway, and Denmark, don’t even allow abortions after 12 weeks. And only three of 42 European countries allow abortions past 15 weeks.
Yet Democrats would have you believe that Graham’s bill, which is the norm in much of the rest of the world, is an “extreme piece of legislation,” according to the White House.
Which is more extreme? A law that aligns with the likes of Germany and France? Or a no-limits, on-demand abortion agenda, the likes of which can be found only in China, North Korea, and the Democratic Party?
The White House also claimed that Graham’s bill is “wildly out-of-step” with what voters want. This, too, is false. Poll after poll after poll shows the country supports restricting abortion. In fact, 72% of voters, including 60% of Democrats, said in a Harvard/Harris survey conducted in June that they would support a 15-week ban.
So, if White House staffers are looking for an extreme and out-of-touch platform on which to pin the blame, I suggest they start by looking in the mirror.
